Ruthenium

Symbol: Ru

Atomic Number: 44

Atomic Weight: 101.07

Ruthenium (number 44, symbol Ru) is a transition metal that belongs to the platinum group metals together with iridium, osmium, and rhodium. It was discovered and isolated by the Polish chemist and physician Andrew Sniadecki in 1807.

Properties and Occurrence
Ruthenium is a rare metal that is mainly found in deposits of other platinum group metals. There are deposits in South Africa, Canada, and the Ural Mountains. Iridium, rhodium, ruthenium, and osmium are separated from base metals and gold. It is also extracted from the iron-nickel sulfide pentlandite. The metal is also found in ruthenarsenite, ruarsite, laurite, and other minerals, but...Read More